Bill de Blasio Picks Up Teachers Union Endorsement

Bill de Blasio is congratulated by Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, after Mr. de Blasio secured the Democratic nomination for mayor on Monday.

The union that represents New York City teachers endorsed Public Advocate Bill de Blasio’s mayoral candidacy Wednesday evening, continuing the slightly awkward coalescing of the party establishment around the presumptive Democratic nominee.

The United Federation of Teachers had bet big on former city Comptroller Bill Thompson — who finished second in the primary — spending $2.7 million on his behalf. Yet Mr. Thompson didn’t garner enough support at the polls to force a runoff with Mr. de Blasio, who won just over 40% of the votes last Tuesday and remained in limbo until Mr. Thompson conceded Monday morning.

But over the weekend, UFT President Michael Mulgrew said Wednesday, he sat down with Messrs. Thompson and de Blasio at the union’s Manhattan headquarters and the three men agreed that it was best to get behind the first place finisher.

“In the end, the decision was made that what was in the best interest of the city was to unite the Democratic party to make sure that a Democrat becomes the mayor of New York City and not the Republican nominee,” Mr. Mulgrew said.